Voter Vibe Check: Democratic Voters Are Torn Over Biden’s Gaza Policy
Notes from America with Kai Wright
WNYC Studios
4.4 • 1.5K Ratings
🗓️ 18 March 2024
⏱️ 50 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
A movement is emerging among registered Democrats across the U.S. In Minnesota and Michigan, collectively, more than 150,000 voters chose “uncommitted” rather than selecting Joe Biden on their primary election ballots. Protest voting is a trend on the rise with many in the Democratic party expressing their frustration at U.S. policy as the war in Gaza enters its sixth month.
Host Kai Wright asks voters who would likely have supported Biden’s campaign, but are now conflicted because of the violence in Gaza, what they will do to engage politically? In this episode, Kai also speaks with Rima Meroueh, director of the National Network for Arab American Communities and a volunteer with Michigan's “Uncommitted” campaign, about how the campaign came to be and what her organization is hearing from voters about the future of political organizing around the war in Gaza.
Tell us what you think. We're @noteswithkai on Instagram and X (Twitter). Email us at [email protected]. Send us a voice message by recording yourself on your phone and emailing us, or record one here.
Notes from America airs live on Sundays at 6 p.m. ET., and listeners to the broadcast and podcast are invited to join the conversation at 844-745-TALK(8255). Podcast episodes are lightly edited from our live broadcasts.
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | Do you feel like the upcoming election would have been simpler for you before Gaza? |
| 0:07.0 | It was a harder decision before and now it's even a harder decision. |
| 0:11.0 | I don't know yet. |
| 0:12.0 | Definitely not voting for Genocide Joe. I don't know yet. Definitely not voting for genocide Joe. |
| 0:14.0 | I'm definitely not voting for Biden. |
| 0:16.2 | No, because I've always known no one really cares about Muslims or has like, you know, |
| 0:19.5 | genuine interests or look out for Muslims. It's all about votes. |
| 0:22.1 | I feel like both parties don't hear us. |
| 0:24.0 | It's just really unfortunate. |
| 0:26.0 | We did put on committee. |
| 0:28.0 | I know that eventually you do have to put an actual vote, |
| 0:30.0 | but if it was between Biden or Trump I would probably go with Trump. |
| 0:34.4 | It's definitely more complicated. It just really shows that our systems have really |
| 0:39.3 | failed us. We'll remain uncommitted until there is legal change happening to protect our |
| 0:46.6 | tax dollars where it's going and also protect innocent civilians overseas. It's Notes from America. I'm Kay Wright. Welcome to the show. |
| 1:10.0 | It's Notes from America. I'm Kay Wright. |
| 1:12.0 | Welcome to the show. |
| 1:15.3 | Six months ago, it seemed clear what would motivate or depress |
| 1:20.0 | the engagement of people in this presidential election |
| 1:22.7 | to typically vote for Democratic candidates, |
| 1:25.3 | reproductive rights, inflation, terror of Donald Trump. |
| 1:28.9 | All those things are still on a lot of minds, |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from WNYC Studios, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of WNYC Studios and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2025.